About International Retinal Research Foundation
The International Retinal Research Foundation concentrates almost exclusively on biomedical research into retinal disease and vision science, funding academic ophthalmology departments and specialty professional societies. Its grants are focused and substantial, supporting translational and clinical research programs at major medical centers and enabling society-led research initiatives and knowledge-sharing in the retina subspecialty. The foundation appears to prioritize institutions with established retinal research infrastructure rather than small community providers.
Focus Areas
Retinal disease and vision science research at academic medical centersOphthalmology departmental research programs (clinical and translational)Support for retina-focused professional societies and knowledge exchange (The Retina Society, The Macula Society)Institutional research capacity-building at U.S. university hospitals (e.g., Vanderbilt, UAB)
Who They Fund
academic medical centers / university hospitalsophthalmology departmentsretina-focused professional societies (e.g., The Retina Society, The Macula Society)
About International Retinal Research Foundation
A $8.3 million grant to Vanderbilt University in 2023 stands out in the International Retinal Research Foundation Inc’s recent record, showing how heavily the foundation can concentrate support in retinal research at established medical centers. Across its latest grants, the foundation backs ophthalmology departments, university hospitals, and retina-focused scientific societies rather than individual patients or community programs. Its work reaches both basic and clinical research, with awards that support vitreoretinal research training, macular and retinal disease studies, and knowledge-sharing inside the retina subspecialty. The foundation’s recent grants also show repeated support for major institutional partners. UAB Dept of Ophthalmology received six-figure awards in 2024 and 2025, while The Retina Society and The Macula Society each appear multiple times as recipients of research funding. Smaller awards still fit the same pattern: postdoctoral scholar grants, society-linked research awards, and research support for academic investigators all point to a funder built around specialized retinal science. The International Retinal Research Foundation Inc gives nationally, but its grantmaking is not diffuse; it is directed toward organizations already embedded in retinal research and care.
What International Retinal Research Foundation Funds
In ophthalmology department research, the foundation supported UAB Dept of Ophthalmology with $1,000,000 in 2024 and $450,000 in 2025 for research. It also gave Vanderbilt University $525,000 in 2025 and $785,000 in 2024, reinforcing its interest in university-based retinal research programs. Professional society research is another clear theme. The International Retinal Research Foundation Inc awarded The Retina Society $275,000 in 2025 and The Macula Society $270,000 in 2025, reflecting its partnership-style funding for retina subspecialty organizations. Smaller society grants also appear in prior years, including $75,000 to The Retina Society in 2023 and 2024 and $70,000 to The Macula Society in 2023 and 2024. The foundation also supports investigator development. It granted $100,000 to the Robert Machemer Foundation in 2024 and 2023, matching its career-development and fellowship-linked approach to retinal research training.
How International Retinal Research Foundation Gives
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$1.7M
Total Assets
$20.3M
Total Revenue
$1.2M
Total Expenses
$2.1M
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $35K and $91K, with a median of $50K.
25th Percentile
$35K
Median
$50K
75th Percentile
$91K
Geographic Reach
National11 states funded
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Where International Retinal Research Foundation Funds
Top 2 recipient countries by grant volume for International Retinal Research Foundation.
| Rank | Country | Grants | Total | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United StatesDomestic | 31 | $12.8M | 96.9% |
| 2 | Brazil |
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